Four Men Wounded in 'Terrortown' Shooting

CHICAGO — Four men were wounded in a shooting in South Shore Thursday afternoon, police said.

The shooting occurred about 3:15 p.m. in the 2500 block of East 75th Street, said officer Jose Estrada, a police spokesman.

The four men were standing in the doorway of a store when two cars pulled up, and people began firing from within both, said Officer Daniel O'Brien, a police spokesman.

Afterward, about 12 shell casings remained on the ground.

Members of Cease Fire were on the scene in what's known as "Terrortown" more than two hours later and called the shooting "an ongoing conflict between rival cliques."

"School had just let out — there were kids around," said Ulysses "U.S." Floyd, an outreach supervisor with the South Chicago/South Shore Cease Fire. "We're trying to bring these guys together now to stop this."

Floyd, a self-described former gangbanger, gestured to a nearby wall to point out a prominent gang symbol.

"It's a learned trait," he said, "They follow uncles, brothers, fathers into it — this is what they know.

"It's a hard cycle to break but that's what we're here to do. And tomorrow we'll be back out here talking to them."

Three victims were taken in serious to critical condition to nearby hospitals, fire officials said.